Pasteurization & Homogenization 101

Most of us take it for granted that milk and other foods are pasteurized and homogenized. When certain practices go unquestioned, we accept them as being “just the way things are.” But pasteurization and homogenization denature foods. They alter the chemical structure of food, make fats rancid, destroy nutrients and result in the formation of free radicals in the body.

It’s not just dairy anymore either. Pasteurization is used on everything from fruit juices to shelled nuts.

Pasteurization of milk

The Industrial Revolution created the first farm factories: dairy lots within city limits alongside distilleries. Unsanitary conditions in the new urban environments led to the development of pasteurization: heating milk to high temperatures in order to destroy all disease-causing bacteria and pathogens. It was a cheap alternative to sanitary inspections and regulation. People in the 1800’s and 1900’s had to be convinced that pasteurized milk was better than raw. A huge marketing campaign that involved industrialists and government agencies began and still continues today. Many people are horrified at the idea of drinking milk in its natural state.

Conditions, machinery and regulation today make clean milk possible whether it is pasteurized or raw. Pasteurization today, as it did so many years ago, allows dairy cows to be handled and processed in many unsanitary and inhumane ways as long as the milk is pasteurized in the end.

Pasteurization denatures milk in multiple ways. The process destroys vitamin A completely and destroys about 38% of B vitamins. It weakens or destroys vitamin C. It destroys the enzyme phosphatase, which is needed to absorb calcium. It alters or destroys many amino acids, reducing the digestibility of protein in milk by 17%. Alterations in milk proteins can often trigger an immune response.

Homogenization of milk

Homogenization is a high-pressure process that breaks down fat into tiny particles so that they stay suspended. This gives milk, peanut butter and other foods a creamy consistency. Fat subjected to high heat and pressure oxidizes—it becomes rancid.

Reduced fat milks are thickened by the addition of powdered milk. Powdered milk is also oxidized fat.

Homogenized products have been linked to rising rates of cancer and heart disease.

Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization (UHT)

UHT products are especially denatured. You will often see that organic milk sold in stores is Ultra Pasteurized. The very high temperatures used in UHT products alter and destroy proteins and enzymes to a very high degree. UHT milk is so unnatural that bacteria won’t go near it. It can last without refrigeration for up to 50 days in plastic bottles and up to 6 months in aseptic containers.

When we eat or drink foods that have been pasteurized and homogenized, the increase in unusable proteins forces the body to quickly use up many enzymes and other vital nutrients to process it. Pastereurized milk can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Protein, fat and sugar particles in denatured milk easily pass through the intestinal lining and cause inflammation and allergic reactions.

Every day, more foods are pasteurized to make up for unsanitary conditions, destroying the natural bacteria and enzymes that would normally counteract the growth of pathogens.

Sources

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<p>Jean, yes, the milk comes out near where manure comes out, but in healthy animals on pasture, these kinds of bacteria (I’m assuming you are talking about E. coli) are fewer and not pathogenic like those from animals on feedlots and those being pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, and genetically-modified feeds like corn, grain, and soy. </p><p>Did you know that our digestive tracts all contain E. coli bacteria? It’s not the bacteria that harm us, it’s the lack of diversity brought on by mono-cropping and conventional farming – processes that effectively destroy all useful and good bacteria…sort of like pasteurization and hydrogenation in unhealthy oils, that are harmful and leave us susceptible to becoming ill from exposure to pathogenic bacteria. </p><p>Bottom line is, raw milk produced from healthy cows on pasture is not going to make you sick to drink because the good bacteria are there to keep the bad bacteria in check. My family has drank raw milk for nearly three years, had milk allergies or intolerances prior to that and couldn’t consume pasteurized dairy without health repercussions, and now has no problems whatsoever. Our overall health has improved dramatically. Less sickness, less health issues. </p><p>If you have a compromised immune system from eating industrial, processed foods that are devoid of nutrients and minerals, you might have trouble with raw milk. But it wouldn’t be because the milk was bad – it would come down to problems with the health of your own digestive tract, which likely contains deeply abnormal gut flora and needs to be healed in order to function properly and absorb the nutrients in real food.</p>

<p>On a cow where the milk come out and where the manure comes out is too close in proximity to ensure that the utter is bacteria free during milking. Most of the bad bacteria come from the manure. <br/>Dr. Josh needs to take a trip back to reallity once in a while.</p>

<p>Very informative! I just found out that I’m allergic to cow’s milk (along with wheat, gluten, yeast, and a few other things), but I wonder if I would be able to tolerate raw milk. I’ll have to give it a try after I’ve been off dairy for awhile longer. Thanks for another great article!</p>

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.